Uzbekistan aims to reduce landfills by half while expanding recycling

In the Uzbekistan – 2030 strategy draft, the protection of natural ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity are identified as a separate priority area. The document provides for regular assessments of the condition of natural pastures and hayfields, evaluation of vegetation cover, and the sustainable use of resources.

Among the planned objectives are:

• conducting annual geobotanical surveys of vegetation on natural pastures and hayfields across an area of 2 million hectares;
• establishing cultivated plantations of medicinal and food plants on 10,000 hectares each year.

At the same time, the draft strategy includes measures to improve the quality of municipal services for the population, including the modernization of the solid household waste collection and removal system. Targets have been set to expand recycling and reuse, increase the share of alternative energy generation from waste, and reduce the number of landfills.

Key indicators for solid household waste include:

• population coverage with solid household waste collection and removal services at the neighborhood level – 85 percent;
• household waste recycling rate – 6 percent;
• share of waste incinerated to generate alternative energy – 20 percent;
• reduction in the number of solid household waste landfills by at least 50 percent;
• establishment of 13 eco-industrial zones specializing in household waste recycling.

According to the draft, the implementation of these measures will contribute to the protection of natural resources, support biodiversity through the cultivated production of medicinal plants, and expand recycling and energy recovery practices within the waste management system.